Large Scale Central

Narrow Gauge Convention, anyone?

General Discussion
#1

I was just wondering if any of you anal modelers were planning on or thinking about attending the annual Narrow Gauge Convention, which is set in Pasadena, California from August 28 to the 31st.
This convention, which I believe is the handiwork of Gazette publisher/editor Bob Brown, is all about serious modeling of narrow gauge and logging railroads. If you read Gazette and see some of the incredible stuff that appears there, you’ll know why I’m thinkin’ that since it’s in SoCal, this would be a great chance to see a lot of the best modeling in the world. There are layout tours, mostly HO, O and S, but with a few large scale sprinkled in (I believe that Toddalin is on the list, as is Bob Treat down in San Diego. And therein lies the problem. Because Southern California is so big, a trip from Pasadena to Treat’s is more than 100 miles one way. And that’s not even talkin’ about the mess that is Interstate 5! Thankfully, Todd Brody is only maybe 20 miles away from convention center and there are plenty of small-scale layouts that are closer (Hey, it’s all about inspiration, not size).

There are also clinics, probably some modular display layouts and tours to real places like Knott’s Berry Farm, which has two D&RG C-19s running, plus other sites like museums. Check out the Convention’s site here: http://www.33rdnngc.com/

One good thing about goin’ to Pasadena is that “The Original Whistle Stop” is located there. It’s one of America’s best (and maybe among the last) brick-and-mortar model train stores and worth a visit just to see all the stuff on hand.

So, any takers?

#2

Hi Joe

Going? its only 5 miles from my place, I’ll be there at the Pasadena Hilton with my wacky Pizza Layout representing the Grossbahn banner.

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/representin%20fail.jpg)

Betcha a few 1/20.3 guys just spit their coffee in horror LOL, but dont worry I’ll be bringing my very best mad bashes.

(http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_maqd8aOEuY1qbjqln.gif)

:wink:

#3

Will Sheldon be there?

#4

Steve if you mean Dr Sheldon Cooper of Cal Tech, I doubt it, everything that I have seen him mess with was strickly standard gauge.

#5

I WAS going to attend until I found out what the registration fee was. $110 plus $15-$35 for EACH separate event you attend. The Fillmore & Western event is an additional $65. I just wanted to attend the vendors hall and was told that would be $110 plus whatever I purchased there. Too pricey EVEN for me who usually spends BIG bucks! They could have charged a large entrance fee for the vendors hall (say $30-$40) and I might have considered it. THIS narrow gauge crowd is apparently well-heeled.

#6

I can’t make it, but my In-ko-pah Railroad is on the layout tour.

#7

Yeah Gary it is a bit much. As an exhibitor we get access to the show but experience shows being there your usually too busy to walk around. Also its a four day commitment so even if its no fee its not really free.

#8

When i have gone in recent years i have generally stayed at other hotels. that said there are no rooms at the inn and an $18.00 per day parking fee- no thanks

#9

Gary Armitstead said:

I WAS going to attend until I found out what the registration fee was. $110 plus $15-$35 for EACH separate event you attend. The Fillmore & Western event is an additional $65. I just wanted to attend the vendors hall and was told that would be $110 plus whatever I purchased there. Too pricey EVEN for me who usually spends BIG bucks! They could have charged a large entrance fee for the vendors hall (say $30-$40) and I might have considered it. THIS narrow gauge crowd is apparently well-heeled.

Ouch they have to be out of there mind to charge those kind of prices. Good way to promote the hobby, make it unaffordable. Nice.

#10

The folks in Pasedena live in another world…

#11

Steve Featherkile said:

The folks in Pasedena live in another world…

Yeah! AND this would have been my first time to attend. Oh well…

#12

Another LA On30 group thats doing the organizing with Pasadena is the venue, I’m just glad its near enough so I can drive in and out each day, if it was farther away I wouldn’t be able to commit to all 4 days.

They must be doing something right, the website mentions they may add a 3rd trip to the Knotts steam engine facility. I’d love to check that out.

#13

One thing to keep in mind, this is an ALL SCALES event, from Nn3 right up to the 1:1 real thing guys, thats a mighty wide group to get your attendance from.

The $110 is for all four days, thats less than $25/day, but its too bad they didn’t break out an individual day access. Guess thats the difference between a train show and a convention.

I recall seeing something earlier about a possible separate admission for Saturday AM but have not seen it lately, besides Saturday is only in the morning hours (8-12) so maybe not alot of folks would be lining up at 8 am.

EDIT: I sent an inquiry to the organizers asking if there would be a “public access day”. Let you know what I hear.

#14

Well, as Joe aptly put it, you have to be anal; though I wish I could afford to pay to get there, pay to stay somewhere, pay to get in and pay to attend the events. Pipe dreams! like me being able to afford a brass live steamer some day.

#15

Vic Smith said:

One thing to keep in mind, this is an ALL SCALES event, from Nn3 right up to the 1:1 real thing guys, thats a mighty wide group to get your attendance from.

The $110 is for all four days, thats less than $25/day, but its too bad they didn’t break out an individual day access. Guess thats the difference between a train show and a convention.

I recall seeing something earlier about a possible separate admission for Saturday AM but have not seen it lately, besides Saturday is only in the morning hours (8-12) so maybe not alot of folks would be lining up at 8 am.

EDIT: I sent an inquiry to the organizers asking if there would be a “public access day”. Let you know what I hear.

Vic,

I contacted Judy Hill through the registration form. I KNOW Fred Hill from way back. She replied to that email and said that Fred could arrange a ONE DAY Pass for $60! That email was dated 06/08. I proceeded to follow-up on this offer. Then I received a SECOND answer (06/14), NO ONE DAY passes will be given, “unofficially”. ! I really don’t know what to believe now.

#16

The price kept me from going when the convention was in NC.
I only had one day I was going to be able to attend.

Ralph

#17

100 Miles , ahh come on now, thats a cake walk to see a awesome layout. (He double Hockey sticks), I drive that much ever days to and from work. and if you think 100 miles is far try driving to different events in Texas. You don’t know what your missing by not going to the Convention. I have been to quite a lot of them over the years and have done very well in the contests, including winning the Gazette Award in 1986 at the 6th convention in Denver for 1:24 scale model of the RGS O2 Plow. I have been to the Pasadena convention before and yes it is expensive to go to if you are from out of state when you have to add the cost of air fair, Hotel and car rental and convention registration, but it is well worth it. Make it a holiday and not just a train meet. I am far from weathly and I still have been able to attend some of them in places like Denver, Pasadena, St Louis, and in NC and I am looking forward to finally having one locally in 2015 when it will be here in Houston.

The cost of the registration goes up a bit yearly but not as much as you would think. When I attending the First Narrow Gauge convention in St Louis the registration was I believe $85.00 for all 4 days, plus that included a banquet dinner as well as bus fare to the layouts on the tour.

So @ $110.00 for all 4 days is a reasonable price in my way of thinking. If you don’t like the high price you can thank the Hotels and the prices they set for the room rental. Thats where about 90% of the cost of the convention regristration goes. The other is for the cost of the awards if they are not donated by one of the attendies as well as the cost of advertising and misc. items like name badges and handouts for layout tours and such.

If I still lived in So. Calif , I would be there in a heartbeat even though I hate driving the highways out there. I guess I am one of those Anal modelers that Joe refered to, but I take it as a compliment. If you want to see some top notch modeling work that is far better that what you would see in a museum, then this is a must as the work on display is done by some of the top Narrow Gauge and Logging Modelers in the US and Canada and yes this is all about serious modeling of narrow gauge and logging railroads.

I know there will be a lot of smaller scales there , but if you subscribe to the Gazette, go back and take a look at the winners of the constests over the past 10 or 12 years and see how many of them were of 1:24 and 1:20 scale models. Quite a number of them.

The Convention is a place to meet new people and visit with old friends and see what other people are doing and to get inspiration for starting new projects and expanding our existing work and railroads.

Do not let a 3 hour drive or the cost of 4 meals out of the town keep you away for a great event. Go and have fun. I would be there , but I already have plans on going to Colorado to see and ride the Cumbres and Toltec and the Rio Grande scenic railroads and thats a 20 hour drive for me one way. So Yes I am a die hard Anal Narrow Gauge Modeler.

#18

For me, the cost of the actual convention is a drop in the bucket. It’s getting there, staying there, and having a semi-full stomach while you’re there that eats up the resources. I’d go to more in a heartbeat if it weren’t for that. Top-drawer modeling, historical information, and the vendors have some very esoteric stuff. I really wanted to go to the NC convention to ride through the Doe River Gorge. For certain, the next one to come though Colorado will see me in attendence.

Later,

K

#19

Gary Armitstead said:

Vic Smith said:

One thing to keep in mind, this is an ALL SCALES event, from Nn3 right up to the 1:1 real thing guys, thats a mighty wide group to get your attendance from.

The $110 is for all four days, thats less than $25/day, but its too bad they didn’t break out an individual day access. Guess thats the difference between a train show and a convention.

I recall seeing something earlier about a possible separate admission for Saturday AM but have not seen it lately, besides Saturday is only in the morning hours (8-12) so maybe not alot of folks would be lining up at 8 am.

EDIT: I sent an inquiry to the organizers asking if there would be a “public access day”. Let you know what I hear.

Vic,

I contacted Judy Hill through the registration form. I KNOW Fred Hill from way back. She replied to that email and said that Fred could arrange a ONE DAY Pass for $60! That email was dated 06/08. I proceeded to follow-up on this offer. Then I received a SECOND answer (06/14), NO ONE DAY passes will be given, “unofficially”. ! I really don’t know what to believe now.

Gary, the answer I got was to contact Judy Hill, so I guess your back where you started, sorry.

#20

Here is a thought that has not been brought up yet. Find someone in your area that is either going or thinking about going and see if they are interested in splitting the cost. Two or more can share a hotel room for a lower cost than one person. I have done that a few times attrending conventions. If they are driving you can also split the travel costs too, Gas Mostly.

Most hotels usually have a microwave and small fridge so you can always stop at a local market and pick up things for breakfest and to make lunches and dinners. You don’t have to always go out to a resturant every morning and night. You can save a bundle that way as well.

As much fun as it is to stay at the convention hotel and be able to roam the halls to see which dealers might have something set up in thier hotel room, cheaper hotels can usually be found close by. You might also want to check out university dorms and housing. Usually during the summer months they are not being used and in some cases they are rented out to visitors for a few days. I did that once for one convention I went to and it only cost me something like $125.00 for a week. They aren’t the nazziest places but basically you only need a place to sleep.

There are plenty of ways to cut costs to be able to attend a convention and still be able to eat and even buy a few things while your at it.

Transportation: here is an idea. Don’t fly and if no one in your area is driving, Why not take the bus. Yes Bus. Leave the driving to someone else. The cost of a bus ticket is a whole lot cheaper than a plane ticket, and the Greyhound goes to most cities. I took a trip to indinapolis from houston and back and it only cost me $110.00 round trip. Sure it took 24 hours to get there, but Heck I just read and slept since I wasn’t driving.

Lodging: check out Craigslist for pasadena and see if there are anyone renting rooms or apts for a short time that you would be there. Thats one way of cutting costs. Also check out some Monastaries in the area, sometimes they also rent out rooms for a modest price. They wont have TV or a things like Microwaves or phones, but again all you will be doing is sleeping.

If you really do some creative planing and cost cutting, I bet you could attend the convention for the 4 days and not cost you more than between 800.00 and 1000.00 total for transportation, hotel, regristration and food, plus have some mad money to buy things with. I know it can be done, I have done it several times.

Dan S.